title: Law & psychiatry: the evolution of laws regulating psychiatric commitment in France.
abstract: This column reviews the evolution of French laws governing psychiatric commitment, culminating in the July 2011 Act, which was opposed by most professional organizations. The 2011 Act has maintained the two traditional French approaches to involuntary treatment: at the request of a third person and upon a decision by a prefect representing the government. However, the 2011 Act introduced major innovations into French practices: systematic review by a judge, a 72-hour observation period, and the possibility of compulsory community treatment.
authors.affiliation: Centre Hospitalier Sainte-Anne, Service Hospitalo Universitaire, 1, rue Cabanis, F-75014 Paris, France. r.gourevitch@chsainte-anne.fr
authors.forename: Raphaël
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gourevitch
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brichant-Petitjean
authors.forename: Marc-Antoine
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Crocq
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petitjean
mesh_terms: D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D007878:Legislation as Topic / Q000639:trends*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D028701:Patient Rights / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*